The Secret Toll

  CHAPTER XVI--THE FATAL DANCE

  Forrester's splendid health, and the prompt treatment he had received,quickly put him on his feet. The second day after his adventure he hadsufficiently recovered to drive home in his car. This had been placed inthe Bradbury barn by Joshua, who also completed the exchange of tires,which had been interrupted.

  The effect of this incident upon his family worried Forrester. It woulddrive his mother into a state of hysterical fear that could not fail toseriously impede his investigations. When he mentioned this phase of hisaccident to Mary Sturtevant, however, he found that the clever andresourceful girl had foreseen and provided against such an occurrence.

  Green had been summoned shortly after Forrester was brought to thehouse, the attack explained and instructions given to inform Forrester'sfamily that a business proposition had called him away unexpectedly fora few days.

  "No one outside of Mr. Green and my servants will ever know of thisincident," Mary Sturtevant informed Forrester, "if _you_ remain silent.And for my sake I know that you will."

  Forrester promised, though strange doubts and misgivings battled withhis affection for the girl. But of what use was love, he reflected, ifit could not stand the fire and acid tests of life's problematicalmoments. That the girl loved him he did not question now. It was onlythis dark and fearsome mystery which continued to hold them apart.

  Back home again, Forrester bathed and changed his clothes; then, afterlooking up his mother and sister and accounting for his absence in amatter of fact manner, he sought Green at his station in the pergola.

  "Narrow escape, Mr. Forrester," commented Green, as Forrester shookhands with him and sat down. "Funny how that Miss Sturtevant happened tobe so handy. What do you say?"

  "I came out to have a talk with you, Green, along that line," repliedForrester. "I have found some of your ideas right to the point. In otherways you don't seem to get anywhere. Now, for example, your surmiseabout the Italians was correct. Your theory that Lucy is not connectedwith these people appears to be confirmed by the investigations of thepolice. The position you take that the 'Friends of the Poor' are locatedin the vicinity of the tree grows stronger every day. But--you don'tseem able to point your finger at a single person or thing that willgive us a solid basis upon which to work. That is what I want now--areal suggestion that I can follow up, and through which I may hope toform some definite conclusion or take positive action. We must haveaction, Green; quick action."

  "I have given you a valuable hint, Mr. Forrester, but you turned itdown. What about them two people I saw on Prentice's lawn--what aboutthe man who visited Miss Sturtevant and then hid himself behind the treeand pulled out your package while the excitement was on--what about 'em,eh? Why, damn it all!" Green exclaimed, jumping to his feet and poundinga big fist on the palm of his open hand, "just let me get out of hereand I'll show you somethin'. How can I get anywhere, just sittin' herecommunin' with the birds. If you won't let me do it, then get outyourself and find that man. Between him and the girl you got twostartin' points that'll bag the whole crew."

  Forrester sat in silence after this outburst. Green was right! Thedetective _had_ pointed an accusing finger at Mary Sturtevant. He _had_given Forrester positive information that she knew something definiteabout the "Friends of the Poor," and yet, blinded by his infatuation,Forrester had done nothing.

  "All right, Green," agreed Forrester, "I'll work on your suggestions.How can we locate that man, however?"

  "If he had a date with her once, he'll have another," asserted Green."Stick around--that's all. That girl'll solve the case for you yet. Justget her in a tight corner." Then he leaned down to Forrester and added,in a low, confidential tone, "And don't forget that old story about themsireens on the rocks."

  ----

  A few days later Forrester met Mary Sturtevant at a dance. Though he hadpromised Green that he would watch her, Forrester had dallied overtaking the first step. Now, as he chatted with her and felt the spellshe always cast over him, Forrester's whole being revolted at thethought of spying upon her.

  "Do you wish any dances?" she inquired, after a time. Forrester's faceflushed. Divided between his disturbing reflections and the enchantmentof her nearness, he had not thought of reserving any dances. He held outhis hand and she placed her dance card in it.

  "You see, you are always late," she chided him. "Five dances are alreadytaken."

  "I'll take these three after young Melville," announced Forrester, andwrote his initials on the card.

  Forrester had lost his interest in dancing of late, so he held himselfin the background until it was time to claim his first dance with MarySturtevant. Then he hunted for her everywhere. She was not to be found,and even after the orchestra had begun to play, she did not appear. Hesaw nothing further of her until time for his second dance, when hesuddenly became aware that she was standing by his side.

  "You are like the beautiful young woman that the magician passes throughhis cabinet," exclaimed Forrester.

  "Do I appear and disappear so mysteriously as all that?" she laughed,but offered no apology nor explanation.

  Then the music began and they swept out on the floor.

  Just before the dance ended Forrester noted a stir near the conservatorydoors. Though the doors were closed, several people were grouped aboutthem, apparently looking through the glass at something going on withinthe conservatory. When the music stopped Forrester suggested that theystroll in this direction and ascertain what was taking place. Beforethey reached the conservatory doors, however, Mr. Melville, their host,appeared at Forrester's side. The man's face was pale and drawn.

  "Forrester," said Mr. Melville in a low voice, "we have had an accidentin the conservatory. I would appreciate your help. Come around by way ofthe hall--the doors from this room have been locked."

  Mr. Melville turned away toward the hall and Forrester excused himselfto Mary Sturtevant. He noticed that her face also had paled.

  "I think I know what has happened," she said. "Please let me go withyou."

  "It might not be agreeable to Mr. Melville," objected Forrester.

  "Robert," she whispered, impressively, "you are safe only when I am withyou!"

  Forrester stared at her in astonishment. There was a beseeching look inher eyes, however, and she held her hands out to him with a pleadinggesture which he could not resist.

  "Come," he said, briefly, and taking her arm led her across the room andaround through the hall into the conservatory. Near its center, hiddenfrom prying eyes among palms and flowering plants, they found Mr.Melville's son stretched out on a bench. Near by stood the father, whilea gray-haired man leaned over the young man. The gray-haired man stooderect at the sound of Forrester's and the girl's approach. Mr. Melvillewas apparently too much distressed to notice Mary Sturtevant's unbiddenpresence. He turned to Forrester, informing him simply that thegray-haired man was a doctor.

  The deathly pallor on the young man's face told the story. Forrester,however, inquired:

  "Dead?"

  "Yes," replied the doctor. "Asphyxiated!"

  "This is the work of the 'Friends of the Poor,' Forrester," asserted Mr.Melville. "I knew that you were involved and had been carrying on someinvestigations in the matter. It occurred to me that there might be someclues here of value to you. This is the story:

  "About two weeks ago I was ordered by these people to place a certainsum in that oak tree. Naturally, I ignored the demand and notified thepolice. Since then I have taken every precaution to protect myselfagainst attack. Unable to get at me, it seems obvious that thesecontemptible wretches have reached me through my son. That, I believe,is a new angle, and shows the extremes to which these people areprepared to go."

  "When did this happen, Mr. Melville?" asked Forrester.

  "About a half-hour ago, I should say, I saw my son pass into theconservatory with this young lady," and Mr. Melville turned toward MarySturtevant for the first time.

  Forrester als
o turned and looked at the girl. She met his gaze steadily.

  "Shortly after I came here," she explained, "my next dancing partnerentered and claimed me. I left young Mr. Melville sitting near that openwindow over there."

  Forrester gave no outward indication of the shock he had received. Heclearly remembered that after young Melville's dance the next threedances were his. It was during the first of these, the one she hadintimated belonged to someone else, that he had missed the girl. Heknew, therefore, that she had lied deliberately, placing it squarely upto him to protect her. "Protect her from what?" thought Forrester. "Whatwas this frightful new development in the mystery?"

  "I decided I wanted a smoke," continued Mr. Melville, "and so came intothe conservatory. A moment later I found my son on the floor beneaththat open window where Miss Sturtevant says she left him. My doctor wasamong the guests and I summoned him at once--but too late, it seems."

  "Any other facts?" asked Forrester, and received another shock when thedoctor handed him a small piece of filmy white fabric.

  "I found this beside the body," said the doctor. And added, as Forrestertook it, "Note the peculiar odor."

  Forrester lifted the fabric to his nose. Instantly he recognized thesame pungent, drug-like smell which he had noticed the night he wasattacked with the death mask. Examining the filmy bit of cloth,Forrester saw that it was a part of a lady's handkerchief which had beentorn in half. In one corner the letter "S" was embroidered. Crumplingthe handkerchief in his hand, Forrester pushed it into his waistcoatpocket.

  "I believe I can make use of this," he said.